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Theodore Roosevelt:A Presidential Unit

Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President of the United States upon the assassination of President William McKinley on 14 September 1901. At 42 he was the youngest man to ever take office. Although born into wealth, he believed in the rights of the common people and giving them a chance to succeed.

"As a boy, Teddy Roosevelt had severe asthma. Sometimes he had to sleep sitting in a chair so he could breathe. But he worked hard to become healthy. He was a hunter, wrestler, a polo player, a boxer, a swimmer, a mountain climber, an explorer, a rancher, a soldier, a student of history, and a writer.

Teddy married Alice Lee in 1880 but she died two days after the birth of a daughter in 1884. In 1886, Teddy married a childhood friend named Edith Carow and had five more children. Teddy Roosevelt made playing with his children an important part of his, and their, life. They were a very lively family. Teddy gave his children a pony. When his son Archie had the measles, his brothers Quentin and Kermit brought the pony upstairs in the White House elevator for a visit.

During the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt was commander of a cavalry unit called the Rough Riders. He became a national hero.

Roosevelt loved to change things he believed needed changing. One of those things was big business. That made him many enemies, even in his own political party. It also earned him the nickname 'trust-buster.' "

2. What other political positions did McKinley hold? [Answer: Member of New York State Assembly, 1882-84; Member of Civil Service Commission, 1889-95; Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1895-97; Governor of New York, 1898-1900; Vice President, 1901 (under McKinley)].

Of Note:

Roosevelt was the first President to ride in a car, fly in a plane, and travel in a submarine.

Two events during his presidency were the Wright Brother's first flight (1903) and the San Francisco Earthquake (1906).

The teddy bear was named after Theodore Roosevelt.

Oklahoma was admitted to the Union under his presidency.

Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for helping end a war between Russia and Japan.